5 Basic Materials Stocks Driving The Sector Higher

All three major indices are trading up today with the Dow Jones Industrial Average ( ^DJI) trading up 153 points (1.0%) at 15,063 as of Monday, July 1, 2013, 12:45 PM ET. The NYSE advances/declines ratio sits at 2,343 issues advancing vs. 631 declining with 69 unchanged.

TheStreet would like to highlight 5 stocks pushing the sector higher today:

5. Schlumberger ( SLB) is one of the companies pushing the Basic Materials sector higher today. As of noon trading, Schlumberger is up $1.56 (2.2%) to $73.22 on average volume. Thus far, 3.0 million shares of Schlumberger exchanged hands as compared to its average daily volume of 7.0 million shares. The stock has ranged in price between $71.95-$73.34 after having opened the day at $72.19 as compared to the previous trading day's close of $71.66.

Schlumberger Limited, together with its subsidiaries, engages in the supply of technology, integrated project management, and information solutions to oil and gas exploration and production industries worldwide. Schlumberger has a market cap of $95.6 billion and is part of the energy industry. The company has a P/E ratio of 17.9, above the S&P 500 P/E ratio of 17.7. Shares are up 3.4% year to date as of the close of trading on Friday. Currently there are 22 analysts that rate Schlumberger a buy, no analysts rate it a sell, and 3 rate it a hold.

TheStreet Ratings rates Schlumberger as a hold. The company's strengths can be seen in multiple areas, such as its revenue growth, largely solid financial position with reasonable debt levels by most measures and good cash flow from operations. However, as a counter to these strengths, we also find weaknesses including unimpressive growth in net income and poor profit margins. Get the full Schlumberger Ratings Report now.

4. As of noon trading, Occidental Petroleum Corporation ( OXY) is up $0.85 (0.9%) to $90.08 on light volume. Thus far, 1.1 million shares of Occidental Petroleum Corporation exchanged hands as compared to its average daily volume of 5.9 million shares. The stock has ranged in price between $89.70-$90.60 after having opened the day at $89.92 as compared to the previous trading day's close of $89.23.

Occidental Petroleum Corporation engages in the exploration and production of oil and gas properties in the United States and internationally. The company operates in three segments: Oil and Gas; Chemical; and Midstream, Marketing and Other. Occidental Petroleum Corporation has a market cap of $72.8 billion and is part of the energy industry. The company has a P/E ratio of 16.9, below the S&P 500 P/E ratio of 17.7. Shares are up 16.4% year to date as of the close of trading on Friday. Currently there are 10 analysts that rate Occidental Petroleum Corporation a buy, no analysts rate it a sell, and 7 rate it a hold.

TheStreet Ratings rates Occidental Petroleum Corporation as a buy. The company's strengths can be seen in multiple areas, such as its expanding profit margins, increase in stock price during the past year and largely solid financial position with reasonable debt levels by most measures. We feel these strengths outweigh the fact that the company has had somewhat disappointing return on equity. Get the full Occidental Petroleum Corporation Ratings Report now.

3. As of noon trading, Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold ( FCX) is up $0.64 (2.3%) to $28.25 on average volume. Thus far, 8.7 million shares of Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold exchanged hands as compared to its average daily volume of 20.3 million shares. The stock has ranged in price between $27.91-$28.75 after having opened the day at $28.62 as compared to the previous trading day's close of $27.61.

Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold Inc. engages in the exploration of mineral resource properties. The company primarily explores for copper, gold, molybdenum, cobalt, silver, and other metals, such as rhenium and magnetite. Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold has a market cap of $25.9 billion and is part of the metals & mining industry. The company has a P/E ratio of 9.6, below the S&P 500 P/E ratio of 17.7. Shares are down 19.3% year to date as of the close of trading on Friday. Currently there are 11 analysts that rate Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold a buy, no analysts rate it a sell, and 4 rate it a hold.

TheStreet Ratings rates Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold as a hold. The company's strengths can be seen in multiple areas, such as its good cash flow from operations, largely solid financial position with reasonable debt levels by most measures and expanding profit margins. However, as a counter to these strengths, we also find weaknesses including feeble growth in the company's earnings per share and a generally disappointing performance in the stock itself. Get the full Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold Ratings Report now.

2. As of noon trading, Chevron ( CVX) is up $1.35 (1.1%) to $119.69 on light volume. Thus far, 2.1 million shares of Chevron exchanged hands as compared to its average daily volume of 6.4 million shares. The stock has ranged in price between $118.00-$120.01 after having opened the day at $118.35 as compared to the previous trading day's close of $118.34.

Chevron Corporation, through its subsidiaries, engages in petroleum, chemicals, mining, power generation, and energy operations worldwide. The company operates in two segments, Upstream and Downstream. Chevron has a market cap of $230.1 billion and is part of the energy industry. The company has a P/E ratio of 9.0, below the S&P 500 P/E ratio of 17.7. Shares are up 9.4% year to date as of the close of trading on Friday. Currently there are 10 analysts that rate Chevron a buy, no analysts rate it a sell, and 5 rate it a hold.

TheStreet Ratings rates Chevron as a buy. The company's strengths can be seen in multiple areas, such as its largely solid financial position with reasonable debt levels by most measures, attractive valuation levels and increase in stock price during the past year. We feel these strengths outweigh the fact that the company has had sub par growth in net income. Get the full Chevron Ratings Report now.

1. As of noon trading, Exxon Mobil Corporation ( XOM) is up $0.51 (0.6%) to $90.86 on light volume. Thus far, 4.3 million shares of Exxon Mobil Corporation exchanged hands as compared to its average daily volume of 13.4 million shares. The stock has ranged in price between $90.38-$91.13 after having opened the day at $90.39 as compared to the previous trading day's close of $90.35.

Exxon Mobil Corporation engages in the exploration and production of crude oil and natural gas, and manufacture of petroleum products. The company also transports and sells crude oil, natural gas, and petroleum products. It has approximately 37,228 gross and 31,264 net operated wells. Exxon Mobil Corporation has a market cap of $402.5 billion and is part of the energy industry. The company has a P/E ratio of 9.3, below the S&P 500 P/E ratio of 17.7. Shares are up 4.4% year to date as of the close of trading on Friday. Currently there are 5 analysts that rate Exxon Mobil Corporation a buy, 1 analyst rates it a sell, and 10 rate it a hold.

TheStreet Ratings rates Exxon Mobil Corporation as a buy. The company's strengths can be seen in multiple areas, such as its increase in net income, attractive valuation levels, largely solid financial position with reasonable debt levels by most measures, notable return on equity and growth in earnings per share. We feel these strengths outweigh the fact that the company shows weak operating cash flow. Get the full Exxon Mobil Corporation Ratings Report now.